Page 20 of Mimosa (Murphy's Pub #2)

Chapter Twenty

The shower was long and luxurious, Mims’s hands all over him, his mouth ending up on Sonny’s dick. He leaned on the tiles and groaned as Mims worked his dick, humming as he did, like it was a favorite household chore.

When they were dried and dressed, Sonny sat him down and told him what was happening. After he told Mims what he’d done, he explained, “I’m going to try to pass it off, like the guy just got away. I’m supposed to do everything they want me to, being undercover. It’s just…There are some things I can’t do.”

“I wouldn’t want you to.”

“It’s why I haven’t gone into details and I won’t. Not with you, baby. I want to keep you far from this, but, well, it means I might have to leave for a while.”

“Why?” he asked without blinking.

“Mims, they’ll want to kill me. I know too much. I’ve messed with their business.”

“Again, why leave? You can hide here.”

“You don’t think this will be the first place they’ll come? I fucked up, Mims, and now I’ve put you in danger too.”

“No, you told them, before all this, that we don’t know squat about them. When they come here, I’ll cuss about you leaving me too, just as it was getting good, or better yet, I have another guy with me, and I tell them, hey, you were just a fuck for a few days.”

“What guy?” he asked, though he knew that wasn’t the point. Still, it cut through him like a sharp blade.

Mims rolled his eyes, as he should. “We have a lot of friends, okay?”

“Just friends.”

“Just. Friends.”

Sonny sighed, “Okay. But, still, Mims…”

“Listen, if it works out that way, then we’ll be apart for a while, but if we don’t have to be, then we won’t. I’m not made of glass, Sonny. I have something to fight for now.”

Sonny kissed him. “You’re something.”

“I’m perfect.”

As he laughed, he agreed, “Damn right, you are. Perfect for me.”

After he left the pub, Sonny’s heart was heavy. He was willing to risk himself, but not Mims. Not one person at the pub. He had to try to stay, to deal with the cartel until it was time to bust them and their suppliers.

That was the rub of it. They already had enough on the cartel to put every member in prison for their lifetimes and a few hundred more, but the higher ups, they wanted the suppliers. Some were in the states and some were in other countries. It wasn’t even possible for him to bust them if he wanted to because it was an international affair now.

He got to the office building they were using for a headquarters, and quickly confessed what had happened to Taran, Sandy, and Campbell. “I’m sorry. I know I fucked up.”

“You shouldn’t go back in,” Taran said.

“He has to,” Campbell said. “As much as we hate it, he’s got to or else they’re going to move their operations. Sandy, are you two so tied that if he leaves, you’ll be fine?”

“Sure. They keep us separate. They don’t know we know each other past working together a few times. I’m sure they’ll pull me in and question me, but maybe that’s fine. I can pretend to sell him out.”

Taran said, “Then it’s settled. He doesn’t go back.”

“I’m going back. Just once. I think they’ll let me explain, and it’s not the first one they’ve lost. I need to help a couple other people that are not…they’re not up for all this.”

“Then get them out and get out yourself. I’ll lay some groundwork before you get back. Talk shit about you, how you’re sloppy and have too many morals.”

“Just don’t go so heavy they want me dead before I can get a few more out.”

“I wish we could get them all out,” Sandy said. “I was there when they unloaded the women. All of them in a drugged haze, clothes ripped. And not one look of sympathy among the cops. What the fuck did they become cops for?”

“Power,” Campbell said. “The average man has very few avenues where they can become powerful. Politicians are almost solely from rich, powerful families now, and those that aren’t clawed their way to where they are. Why go to all that trouble when you can be granted a gun and shield that give you more power than even most politicians?”

Sonny nodded slowly. “They revel in it. I see that hunger in their eyes. And yeah, greed for money is part of it, but Campbell, you’re right about the power. The ones no longer cops are craving that feeling back, and those still in are craving more. It’s a sickness, an addiction like drugs.”

“Even if we get this bunch, there are a lot more out there with that hunger for power,” Taran said.

“It’s human nature, I guess, but for now? Let’s knock these fucks off the board,” Sonny commented, grimacing. “I can’t wait to bust these mother fuckers.”

“We’re all in full agreement there,” Taran said.

The paperwork was behind, so he got busy with it, sending it all to his superiors before tackling a stack of folders on each of the members of the cartel. In each, he added notes from things he’d recently learned and places that he knew they operated from. It took hours, but when it was finished, Sandy was there with a huge cup of coffee for him and a sandwich from the deli down the block.

“Replenish. I did my paperwork yesterday, and I was in bed by eight. It taxed by brain.”

“Yeah, this whole thing taxes my brain.”

“What is it, Sonny? You used to be so gung-ho about this. Now you’re…different.”

At that moment, he had no idea, but it came to him later that evening.

Sonny left and as he drove to the warehouse where they kept the men, he felt a knot growing in his stomach. There was only one sure way of ridding himself of it, if only for a little while.

He called Mims.

“Hey. I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon. Is everything okay?”

“I’m not even there yet. Just needed to hear your voice before I faced the wolves.”

“You needed a lamb to combat the wolves, huh?”

Sonny smiled, and his entire being was calmed just with his voice. “Yeah. My sweet lamb. God, how can there be people like you in the world and then people like them?”

“It takes all kinds, I guess. I miss you, B-T-W.”

“B-T-W?”

“ By the way . Don’t you know text-talk?”

“Oh, right. Sorry, my mind is…a little scrambled. And I miss you too. I’ll try to call later.”

“I’ll watch for the call. I’m on duty tonight in the pub, so I’ll be around.”

“Okay. Talk soon.”

When he got to the warehouse, he got out of the truck and knocked on the side door, having it opened by Rex, one of the guys way down on the list of the cartel members. He nodded to Sonny, who walked over to the walled off area where they kept the young men.

The entrance was covered only with a blanket. He parted it to get inside, and right off, he saw that two of the men were sleeping on the mattresses they had scattered on the concrete floor.

Twelve all together, he saw a bunch off in a corner talking, but they shut up when Sonny walked in.

Then…he saw one of the men, who was on a mattress, but wasn’t sleeping. He was staring in horror at Sonny with one eye, because the other was swollen shut.

Sonny rushed over to him, kneeling on the mattress. “What the hell happened to you?”

The blond guy was shaking like a leaf and his turned his head away as if afraid Sonny would hit him too. His normally handsome face was completely swollen and bruised.

Sonny stormed out to Rex, whose shirt he took into his fists. “What the fuck happened to Chad?”

Rex grinned and said, “Why don’t you ask Franklyn? He’s the one that came by and tuned that little fucker up.”

Sonny wanted to bounce his head off the cement, but he just pushed him as he let go of his shirt. “How the fuck are we supposed to turn them out looking like that?”

“He said we had enough. After you let that one get away, he needed to make an example for the others.”

Sonny was enraged more than he thought he could be, but he had to play it safe, for the other men and for the investigation.

“Well, great. Is he going to do the same to me? The kid got away on my watch.”

“Nah. It’s accounted for, losing a few to running off or dying. No big deal. We’ll get another shipment soon.”

So nonchalant about people’s lives. Sonny was sick, angry, and he knew it was the end for him. He wasn’t cut out for the job he’d wanted since he was a kid. “Right. Another shipment.”

“Franklyn wants them showered and ready to go. There’s a big party in Golden and they’ve ordered all twelve, but, well, now it’s eleven.”

“I’ll do it. You just watch the fucking door.”

He went back to the men and said, “Listen, we’ve got a job tonight. You all get in a line here and I’ll take you to the showers.”

He looked at the bruised man and said, “Chad, you just…rest.”

After leading the men to the bathroom, he got an idea. “You all take showers. I’m locking this door, so don’t get any ideas.”

After he locked the door, he went to Rex again. “Listen, why have one of us waiting around for the others? We can take Chad, rent him out cheap. The others might start fucking up, risking the beating, if they think they can stay behind.”

“Good thinking.”

“I’ll call Franklyn. I’ll need you to drive the follow car behind us.”

“Right. I’ll go get the fucker dressed.”

“I got it. Go watch that the others are showering.”

Rushing, Sonny got in to Chad and knelt by him, leaning in so he could whisper, “You’re coming with us, but don’t worry. I’m getting you to a hospital.”

The one eye Chad could open was wide with disbelief.

“I’m a cop. A real one. I’m investigating these creeps. Just do everything I say, like you’re afraid of me, and…well…you probably are.”

He nodded and said, “You’ll help them, too?”

“Yeah. I plan on it.” Chad nodded and tried to sit up but then wrapped his arms around himself before lying back on the mattress. “Ribs?”

“I think they’re broken.”

“I’ll help you get dressed. We’ll be in the van, so the bumps are going to hurt, but I’m going to get some help.”

After he helped Chad dress, the others filed back into the sleeping area and Sonny told Rex, “I have to go check the van, make sure it’s got gas, tires are up. If we pull over to fix a flat, that could be trouble.”

“I’ll watch them get dressed.”

He went outside to the van and pretended to check it over, but he took out his phone and called Taran.

“Yeah, Sonny, are you okay?”

“Yeah, listen, they’re taking the men to a party in Golden tonight. I don’t know where yet, but I’ll know soon. I’ll send you a text with the address. Come up with anything you can to bust that party. Anything.”

“Shouldn’t be a problem. We have a federal judge on standby for this kind of thing.”

“Perfect. Okay, I need to go, but I also have a guy who’s really bad off and needs a doctor. Can you secure one with an X-ray machine somewhere on the way back to Denver from Golden?”

“Sure, we’ll find one now. Just be careful.”

“I’ll try, but this is gonna be close.”

Sonny ended the call and checked over the van before heading back inside to see all the men dressing at gunpoint. Rex stood with his rifle like he was some old west cowboy in a posse that just captured a bunch of bank robbers. “Put that down. The doors are locked, it’s not like they will escape.”

“Intimidation is part of it,” he whined as the rifle lowered.

“I think the shit being beat out of Chad was enough for a few days, don’t you?”

“Why you calling him that?”

“It’s his name.”

Rex scoffed, “They’re not humans. They’re slaves.”

Sonny’s disgust ripened to the point he didn’t think he could be near the man for another minute without killing him.

Walking off, he checked over the men and said, “Good. You all look good.”

None of them could look at him, and he didn’t blame them. To them, he was one of the pigs that had taken them, one that was selling their bodies, uncaring if they were hurt or killed.

In that moment, he hated himself. But he wanted to change things, at least for those men. No matter the cost to himself.

The fact that more would replace them crossed his mind. More were likely already on the way, making them expendable. There were thousands that could be replacing them, some not missed, and some that would be, but after forty-eight hours, the chances of finding a missing loved one was nearly impossible.

He had to rely on Sandy, Taran and Campbell to get the cartel. And he knew why.

Before, it was easy for him. The world was dark and twisted and he could live with that. Being in that dirt, it was easy for him. He could set himself apart from it and still do his job. Mims coming into his life had changed him. There was light in the world. There were people that were sweet, who smiled easily, who wanted the best for other people, and not just money and power for themselves.

Mims had changed him in a very short time. The guy was everything in the world that was good and pure. And Sonny knew he could never go back to that dark, filthy world.

Sonny would have to be satisfied with saving the world from the outside of the darkness.

They loaded the men in the van and Rex made sure they were tied to the walls of the van with their chained handcuffs. Sonny winced as he saw Chad’s pained expression as he tried to breathe despite the broken ribs. As he closed the back doors, Sonny nodded to him in the side mirror and called out the window, “Meet you there.”

“I sent the address to your phone.”

He’d seen it and had already sent it to Taran and Sandy.

As they took off away from the warehouse, he told the men, “Listen, I know this sucks, but it’ll be over soon.”

“Are you killing us?” One of them asked.

Chad told him, “He’s undercover.”

“Bullshit,” another said.

“I am,” Sonny confirmed. “The house where you’re going is getting busted tonight. You’ll all be taken from there and returned to your lives. You’ll be expected to return to testify, possibly, but for now, you’ll be out of this…hell.”

One of the men burst out in tears, another grunted his disbelief, but none of them said a word.

It was a short ride to Golden, and he traveled as slowly as he could without giving himself away to Rex, who’d likely have the entire cartel waiting for him if he showed his hand.

The house was huge and he waited at the entrance to the gated community with Rex as the “delivery” was checked with the homeowners. Once he was cleared, he started to drive into the community as he told the men, “Listen, just go with whatever they do for now. You’ll be rescued tonight.”

There were murmured conversations, but Sonny soon told them to hush. “If any of you say a thing, or act like you’re anything but beaten down, they’ll know something’s up.”

“We are beaten down,” one of the men said. “I don’t think we’ll be up for any acting awards.”

Sonny laughed a little. “Yeah, tell me about it. I’m with you all, just trying not to get killed.”

They arrived at the huge home and there were two men outside, on the driveway. When Sonny pulled up, one of them told him that deliveries were in the back. He nodded and drove around the end of the home with its rolling green lawn and horrid marble statues.

The back driveway ran to a garage that had seven ports for cars. He hated the very rich. Who in all of fuck needed seven cars?

Another man came to the van and asked, “This the entertainment?”

Sonny’s stomach soured. “Yeah.”

Sonny hopped out of the van and went around to the back to start uncuffing the men. Rex was there and he spoke to the bodyguard or whatever the guy was and tried to act like he was much bigger in the organization than he actually was.

“Yeah, these whores are prime. Picked ‘em myself.”

“Good. My boss only buys the best.”

“Well, he’ll like these.”

Sonny nodded to each as he uncuffed them, and he saw it in a few of their eyes.

Hope.

If he could give them nothing more right then, that had to be enough.

When he got to Chad, as he uncuffed him, Sonny whispered, “I know it hurts, but make sure you really make it good.”

He nodded and even winced from doing that.

Sonny came out of the van and decided to help Rex out, since the guy was going to be in prison that evening. “Rex, uh, this one, he’s coughing up blood.”

Rex’s eyes widened. “What?”

The goon said, “Mr. Anders won’t want some diseased asshole coughing up blood on everyone.”

Rex ground his teeth before he told Sonny, “Take him back to the warehouse.”

“Sure thing. Boss,” he said with a smirk.

Rex’s eyes narrowed at Sonny before Sonny left the men and got back in the van. The joy he got in that moment was short lived, however, as he saw Frankyn pulling in behind him. Sonny stayed where he was until Franklyn was done shaking hands and bragging on himself while Rex was like a kicked puppy, nodding and following behind him.

At the window of the van, Franklyn appeared and asked, “What the fuck is this about coughing blood?”

“One of the…the whores. He got a beating to keep the others in line and now…”

Franklyn’s jaw clenched as he glared at Rex. “Who did that?”

“J-Jacob, sir.”

“Jacob? Mother fuck. Sonny, take him and…get rid of him. By the time he heals up, we’ll have new units.”

“Sure. On it, Franklyn,” he said as he started the van and pulled out of the driveway and the gated community before he told Chad to get up in front. “The seat might be easier on you.”

It took him a while, but he got in the seat and Sonny was on the phone with Taran. “Is everything set?”

“It’s set. The Golden PD is allowing us access, though they weren’t thrilled, but a federal judge signing off on the search, well, that held water.”

“Good. And the doc?”

“I’ll pin you the coordinates. Get there soon, Sonny, and then get yourself to the pub. Cosmo and the others have it set up for you.”

“I don’t want to involve them!”

“Too late. They’re involved, and they’re right. We don’t know who all is in with this cartel. It’s safer to stay away from all things law enforcement.”

“Fine. Whatever,” he said as he hung up the phone. Sure, he would be close to Mims, but he didn’t want to put them in danger, but it was too late for that. Just showing up at the barbeque with Mims had put a target on his back.

As soon as he got to the doctor’s office, he pulled into the alley in back and called Taran to have them open the door for him to get Chad inside. Once Chad was in good hands, Sonny got back in the van and drove it to a residential neighborhood, parked it and started walking while he called a ride share.